15 Magical Creatures in 'Fantastic Beasts'

From billywigs to bowtruckles, it's time for a closer look at the new beasts and bugs introduced in J.K. Rowling's latest big screen bow.

Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros.

[Warning: This story contains spoilers for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.]

Wands at the ready!

The Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is on DVD and Blu-Ray Tuesday.

Before Muggles can grab their own copy, The Hollywood Reporter takes a closer look at new creatures introduced in the Eddie Redmayne starrer, which takes place in 1920's New York.

Billywig

Blink and you'll miss it! The sapphire blue billywig is rarely noticed by muggles (aka non-wizarding kind). Even witches and wizards have trouble catching the Australian insect until they are stung. No wonder it's so difficult for Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to catch this bugger! Side effects from a Billywig sting include levitation and giddiness. P.S. If you look closely, you'll notice its wings sit on top of its head, where they spin instead of flapping.

Bowtruckle

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Warning: Bowtruckles can be sassy and suffer from separation anxiety. Well, at least Newt's favorite beast "Pickett" can. These hand-sized insects have sharp fingers and typically live in trees used to create wands. The tree guardians are peaceful creatures but will turn aggressive if anyone or anything threatens its forest home. What's for lunch: the twig-like creatures munch on wood lice.

Demiguise

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The demiguise is known for two very powerful properties: invisibility and predicting the future. Only well-trained witches and wizards can see them; one must engage in something completely unpredictable to find the ape-like creatures, otherwise they'll predict their capture. Fun fact: it's possible demiguise hair was used to make one of Harry Potter's most prized possessions: his invisibility cloak. Demiguise hair pelts can be woven into them.

Diricawl

The diricawl is a flightless bird with a funny secret. Within J.K. Rowling's universe, the diricawl is actually what muggles call the dodo bird. Why? To escape from danger, the feathered creatures can disappear and reappear some place new. So muggles think the birds have gone extinct, but they've actually just vanished from nonwizard communities. Joke's on you, muggles.

Doxy

The Doxy's nickname is the Biting Fairy — and for good reason. One should take an antidote immediately if bitten by its venomous teeth. Look out for these pests in your draperies, too; the pests are known to infest homes. Your neighborly wizard recommendation: store a healthy supply of Doxycide to keep the varmints far away.

Erumpant

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Don't mess with erumpents. These rhinoceros-like creatures have thick hides that can repell most spells. And stay far away from their horns, which eject a deadly fluid that will make its victims explode. Unfortunately, there aren't too many erumpents in the Wizarding World, because they often make themselves blow up during mating season. Yikes. Fun fact: you could have an erumpent as your Patronus (aka your spirit animal used during the Patronus Charm).

Fwooper & Graphorn

See that fluttering pink bird above? That's a fwooper, an African bird known for its high-pitched song that will drive its listener insane. As a precaution, the magical creature can be sold, only if a Silencing Charm is placed on it.

Graphorns are beasts characterized by their thick skin (tougher than that of dragons) and their tentacle mouths. Fun fact: the horn can be used for special antidotes.

Niffler

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The niffler is an adorable platypus-like animal with a very expensive habit. The black-haired creature loves anything shiny, which means it can wreak havoc if it's in the vicinity of jewels, coins or treasures. Their tummies can serve as seemingly bottomless storage facilities, similar to the pouch Hermione Granger uses with an Undetectable Extension Charm in the original Harry Potter movies.

Nundu

Hear the mighty nundu roar! Well, don't stand too close. Talk about bad breath; the nundu's breath is toxic and spreads disease. Remember when Harry Potter had to stun scary creatures during the Triwizard Tournament (in Goblet of Fire)? That wouldn't be so simple if he came across one of these mammals. It takes about 100 witches or wizards to subdue the deadly nundu.

Mooncalf

How cute are these mooncalves? If only they made more air time in 2016's Fantastic Beasts.

Actually, it makes sense why we don't see much of these animals in the film; The mooncalf is incredibly shy and only emerges from its burrow under a full moon. Fun fact: these beasts love to dance and can at times make geometric patterns in wheat fields, confusing muggles to think they're made by UFOs. (In other words, J.K. Rowling makes a dig at crop circle theories.)

Murtlap

Feast your eyes on this odd, marine rat. The murtlap has a sea anemone for a back and bares a vicious bite. Fun fact: the growth on its back can be pickled and consumed for healing remedies. Don't eat too much though, or your ear hair could turn purple. P.S. Remember when Doloros Umbridge cuts Harry Potter's hands in the Order of the Phoenix during his detention? Hermione Granger uses murtlap essence to heal his wounds.

Occamy

Be very careful if you're caught in a large room with an occamy! The serpentine-bodied creature will grow to fit available space, meaning it can stretch its body to every corner of a room or it can shrink itself to fit into a tiny tea cup. Its eggs are also incredibly valuable, as they're made of pure silver. That's why (SPOILER) Newt Scamander gives them to Kowalski to help finance his bakery. Fun fact: you could have an occamy as your Patronus.

Swooping Evil

Swoop there it is!

Think of the swooping evil as a cross between a reptile and a butterfly. But don't be fooled to think these beautifully-winged creatures are gentle. They can feed on people's brains and deflect spells by flying into their enemies' paths. One positive perk though is that their venom can be diluted to erase bad memories. Ignorance is bliss, right?

Thunderbird

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Thunderbirds certainly live up to their names. The eagle-faced beasts can create storms as they fly by simply flapping their powerful wings. The avian creatures are native to Arizona, which is the main reason Newt Scamander wanted to travel to the United States in the first place after rescuing a Thunderbird named Frank. Unfortunately for him, many of his beasts escape from his magical trunk, a bittersweet treat allowing us to meet all of these majestic animals.